Certain to appeal to Midlands region movie enthusiasts, the full programme for the 14th OFFline Film Festival, to take place in Birr, has been officially announced.
Legendary director Jim Sheridan will be in Birr for the festival, no less than six documentaries will be screened, Fright Night is back, there will be Movies with Live Music and Made in Midlands, a cracking collection of animation and live-action shorts, masterclasses, school screenings, plus lots more.
Opening night is sure to catch the eye on Wednesday, October 11, as the festival welcomes one of Ireland’s most successful and revered film directors, Jim Sheridan, to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre for a special career retrospective.
From his definitive My Left Foot and In The Name of The Father, to the beloved classic Into The West, the semi-autobiographical In America to his more recent ventures, Jim Sheridans’ work is known and loved around the globe. He will talk about his illustrious career to date and delve into a number of scenes from his incredible catalogue of work with our guest moderator, Garret Daly. There will also be a chance for the audience to ask questions.
Around a dozen lucky filmmakers will also be selected for a Directing Masterclass with Mr Sheridan earlier that day. He will take the selected filmmakers through some key scenes, delve into the writer’s motivation behind each scene and display how he might motivate actors to deliver a convincing performance. Priority will be given to local and regional filmmakers selected with the assistance of the local Film commission, FilmOffaly. Apply now www.offlinefilmfestival.com Deadline to apply is Monday 2 October, 5pm.
The National Talent Academy Film & TV Drama will also be hosting their own Industry Masterclass; The Collaborative Art of Producing for TV & Film on Sunday 15 October. This exciting talk will discuss the role of a producer, where creativity meets innovation. The panel will include established producers across multiple platforms within Film & TV Production, including documentary, animation and drama.
As always Made in Midlands takes pride of place once again on this year’s programme on Thursday, October 12. This impressive collection includes live-action shorts made in the Midlands and those made elsewhere by Midlands filmmakers. It’s events like this night of screenings that help remind us who we are. Back in 2019, we opened the Festival with a Made in Midlands compilation and it has now become a firm fixture on our programme.
Other highlights include the much-loved Fright Night which returns this year on Friday, October 13, at Kinnitty Castle (tickets are already selling fast! ) and after its huge success during Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival, Birr School of Music will be hosting its night of silent films with live musical accompaniment, Movies with Live Music on Saturday, October 14, at John’s Hall.
OFFline Film Festival received nearly 400 submissions from filmmakers all over the world again this year. Nearly 50 shorts (animation and live-action ) will screen on Friday and Saturday of the festival with the winners of the Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Animation and the Audience Award announced at this year’s Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 15, at Dooly’s Hotel. The winner of the Best Irish Short Award this year wins a guaranteed distribution deal to over 80 official film clubs across Ireland through access>Cinema and post production and sound for their next short at Windmill Lane.
Documentaries form a major part of this year’s programme including another screening of Nicholas Purcell Ryan’s, Down Memory Lane with Mabel Wallace: 100 Years of Change, which will officially close out this year’s Festival on Sunday, October 15, after a number of sellout screenings in recent weeks.
For the full programme and to book tickets: www.offlinefilmfestival.com
